Apparatus for manufacturing gas.



No. 784,576. PATENTED MAR. 14-, 1905. B. LOOMIS & H. PETTIBONE. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED PEBA. 1904.

3 QHEETB-SHEET 1.

A m i No. 784,576. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

- B. LOOMIS & H. PETTIBONE.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED FEBA, 1904.

l Wv 4T, I VL. MW 5 1 an A 1 5 i I +1 J M z i 1 r." a y 6 w vtmmeo L. an ,W

11017841576. PATBNTED MAR. 14, 1905. B. LOOMIS & H. PETTIBONB.

APPAR TUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS. APPLICATION IILBD FEB. 4. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

BURDETT LOOMIS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, AND HAIVLEY PETTI- BONE, OF NEIV ROCHELLE, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNORS TO POIV ER AND MINING MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,576, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed February 4, 1904. Serial No. 192,036.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BURDETT Looms, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, and HAWLEYPETTI- BONE, residing at New Rochelle, in the county of l/Vestchester and State of New York, citizone of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacturing Gas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for generating motive-power gas, particularly adapted for operatingexplosion-engines.

The object of our invention is to provide for making and delivering a practically continuous and uniform flow or volume of gas directly to a gas-engine without the use of a storage-holder between the generator and the engine.

One of the more specific objects is to provide for effectively cleaning a part of the generating apparatus or any one chamber of a set without interrupting the continuous generation and delivery of gas to the engine.

Another of the more specific objects is to provide for opening and cleaning the fires or bodies of incandescent fuel of ashes and fine carbon, whereby the fires or bodies of fuelare made permeable by vapors, aeriform and gaseous fluids during the evolution of gas, so that a more uniform volume of gas may be maintained and delivered. In the operation of making gas by passage of air or a mixture of air and steam through a body of fuel the.

struction of our improved apparatus by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the apparatus with parts broken away. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation looking from the left-hand side. Fig. 3 represents a rear sectional elevation of the three connected generators,showing the valved connectingpipes,the section being on the line 1 3 Fig. 5, through the gas-outlet pipe and one of the generators. Fig. 4 represents an elevation of the wet and dry scrubbers and governor, shown beyond theline m 00 in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 represents atop plan View of the apparatus.

The gas-generating part of our apparatus preferably comprises three-cupola generatingfurnaces A, B, and C, which are connected at the top by pipes D and D, having valves d, d, and d, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The valves (Z and d are placed in the pipe D, and the valve d is placed in the pipe D, which connects the top of generator B with pipe D between valves (Z and (Z. By means of these pipes and valves any two of the generators may be put into communication at the top, while any one of them may be-shut out of communication, or all three of them may be put into communication at the top. The three generators are also connected at the bottom or ash-pits by pipes E and E, having valves e, a, and a, the pipe E being connected with the base of generator B and with pipe E between its valves 0 and e. The gastake off pipe E also connects with pipe E and with the base of the tubular steam-boiler F, as shown in Fig. 5. By means of these pipe and valve connections any two of the generators may be put into communication, While any one of them is shut out of communication with the gas-outlet pipe E leading to boiler F. It will be apparent, therefore, that any one of the three generators may be cut out for cleaning or repairs, while the gas-making operation is actively continued in the other two. The provision of this capacity to deliver a continuous flow of gas is very important where gas is supplied directly to a gasengine. This will be better appreciated when 1t is understood that gas-englnes ranging from one-hundred to six-hundred horse-power are I now used for driving the machinery of amill or for driving electric generators which furnish the required motive power.

The generators are constructed with iron shells and brick linings in the usual manner and provided at the top with fuel-supply openings at and lids w and at the bottom with arched fire-brick grates Z) and ash-pits X. Steamsupplypipes S, having valves .9, connect with the ash-pits. Similar steam-supply pipes S and valves 5- may also connect with the tops of the generators.

The tubular boiler F is constructed with gas-chambers at top and botton1,such as shown at f in Fig. 1, and has a gas-outlet pipe f, connecting with the top chamber and with the lower end of the wet scrubber G, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A gas-outlet pipe g con nects with the top of scrubber G and with the bottom of the dry scrubber H and is provided with a valve g, asshown in Figs. 4 and 5. The gas-outlet pipe it leads from the top of scrubber H and connects by a branch h with the governor I and farther on connects by a T-coupling with the gas-inlet pipes Z Z of the two-cylinder gas-engine K K. (Shown in outline in Fig. 5.) In connection with the engine are shown the crank-shaft 7c, crank 7?, and belt or fly wheel in. The exhaust-pipe M for spent gaseous products leads from the engine and connects by branch pipes 127., m, and m", having valves n, n, and n, with the ash-pits of the three generators. An exhaustpipe 0, having avalve 0, also connects with pipe M and leads to the open air.

In manufacturing and delivering gas all three of the cupola generating-furnaces may be used at the same time, and we preferably so use them, except when it is necessary to shut one off by closing the valves of its gasconnecting pipes for drawing the fire and thoroughly cleaning it of ash and clinker. After a run of three to five days it is necessary to draw the fire and clean out all accumulation of ashes and clinker, and for this purpose we takeout the lower strata of the fire, breaking the remaining body of fuel down on the grate. After cleaning out the ash pit we supply coal to the generator through the top opening a and again put the generator into operation by opening the connecting-valves. Under modern conditions, in which a gasengine is relied on for the motive power, the

operation of cleaning the fire would necessitate the stoppage of the machinery of the mill or the use of a large and expensive gas-holder or the provision of an extra set of idle generators, both of which provisions would in many cases involve a prohibitive expense for generating plant. WVe have therefore aimed to simplify the conditions and provide an economical apparatus which can with advantage be installed in small manufacturing plants or ore-reducing works.

Fires are kindled on the grates of the three generators, gradually supplied with coal or coke, and allowed to burn by natural draft till deep bodies of incandescent fuel are formed. The generation and delivery of gas to the engine may now be conducted as follows: The top lid in of generator A is closed, while the top lids of generators B and C are left partly open. The upper valves cl, d and d are opened, and the lower valve 6 is closed. Steam is now admitted to the base of generator A and decomposed by passage up through the incandescent fuel therein and the resulting water-gas passes through pipes D and D and thence down into the bodies of incandescent fuel in generators B and C. Small quantities of air are admitted through the top openings of generators B and G for making the desired percentage of producer-gas to mix with the water-gas in generators B and O. The gas-engine is started and at first operated by any suitable auxiliary power, so as to draw into it charges of gas and air, which are ignited, resulting in explosive combustion. The operation of the engine having been established by means of explosive charges, air and water-gas will be drawn down into generators B and C and gas of the desired calorific value will be drawn off through pipe E the boiler, and scrubbers into the engine.

When the fuel in generator A becomes deadened and cooled below the proper temperature for decomposing steam, the steam is shut off therefrom and admitted to the base of generator B. The top lid is of generator B will now be closed and the lids of generators A and 0 opened. The lower. valve 0 will be closed and valve 6 opened. VVater-gas will now pass from the top of generator down through generators A and C and thence off by pipe E and the connections to the gasengine. and the valves, as above indicated, steam may be admitted to the base of generator C and the resulting water-gas, together with air, passed down through the generators A and B.

By the passage of gases downward the fires will in time become plugged with ashes and fine carbon and the make of gas greatly impeded andan insuflicient supply delivered to the engine. In order to overcome or prevent this difliculty, we admit exhaust combustion products under pressure and impulse from the engine directly into the base of the generator in which the fire is plugged. If, for instance,

' it is desired to open the fire and clean the fuel of ashes in generator G, the lid a: and lower valve 6' are closed and valve a in branch pipe m is opened. .The engine will now discharge its exhaust-gases under a pressure of about twenty pounds to the square inch and in impulses into the base of the body of fuel in generator 0, thereby blowing ashes and fine By a proper shifting of the top lids carbon out of the interstices between lumps of coal or coke. This operation will be repeated, as required, in connection with any one of the generators. When the combustiongases from the engine are thus admitted to any one of the generators, the steam may at that time be shut off, and the spent gases containing water-vapor and carbonic acid will be converted into combustible gas containing valuable percentages of hydrogen and carbon monoxid. After the operation has been well started steam may be shut off and all or most of the spent exhaust-gases discharged from the engine into one of the generators at a time. It is to be borne in mind that at the time exhaust-gases are admitted to the base of one generator air is admitted inlet and outlet pipes are closed, the ash-pit and cleaning-doors (not here shown) are opened, and the fire drawn, after which clinkeris cut from the walls and grate in a well-known manner. While generator A is idle steam or exhaust-gases from the engine, or both, will be passed up through the incandescent fuel in one of the remaining pair of generators and the resulting gas passed down through the fuel of the other generator of such pair. A small quantity of air will also be admitted at the top of the second member of the pair of generators which are in operation. In the second body of fuel the heat will be maintained by combustion and carbon monoxid produced from oxygen of the air and the gases passed over from the first body of fuel completely fixed and made combustible.

hen it is desired to clean generator 13, the valves 5 and 6 will be closed, cutting such generator out of circuit. The generators A and (1 will now be operated together. It being understood that a new fire has been made in generator A, valve 0 may be left closed and valve (Z opened and steam or exhaust-gases admitted to the base of generator A. The gases rising through the fuel will pass through pipe D into the top of generator C and thence down through the fuel therein and off through pipe E When it is desired to reverse the flow of gases, valve 0' will be opened and valve 0 closed, permitting gas to be made up through generator 0 and down through generator A. The generator C may in like manner be cutout of circuit by closing the valves cl and e, and at this time the generators A and B will be operated together for making and delivering gas to the engine.

The hot gas passed off through pipe E generates steam in the boiler and then passes into the wet scrubber G, where most of the fine dust and tarry matter which may be present is washed out and deposited, and the gas then passes into the dry scrubber H, Where any remaining lampblack or tarry particles are arrested. The cooled and purified gas then passes directly to the engine K K in the most favorable condition to make explosive charges. The governor I regulates the flow of gas and maintains a uniform pressure thereof at the engine.

Having described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The combination with three-cupola gasgenerators, of pipes connecting them, one with another at the top, controlling-valves in said pipes, pipes connecting said generators, one with another at the bottom, valves in said pipes and a gas-take-oif pipe leading from one of said bottom connecting-pipes, whereby any two of the generators may be operated together as a pair and any one of them cut out of circuit for cleaning and repair, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a pair of cupolagenerators connected at the top and each having, at the bottom, a valved pipe connecting with a gas-take-ofi pipe, of means for supplying air at the top of each cupola, a pipe connecting with the base of each generator and means for supplying through said pipe gaseous fluid under pressure and impulses for opening the fires and blowing ashes and fine carbon from the interstices of the fuel, substantially as described.

3. A pair of cupola-generators having airinlets and a pip econnection at the top and each having at the bottom a pipe and valve connecting with a gas-take-off pipe, a gas engine connecting with said take-ofi' pipe, an exhaust-pipe for spent gases leading from the engine and connecting by a valved pipe with the base of each of the cupola-generators for utilizing such gases, under the pressure and impulses imparted by the engine, to open and clean the fires and make combustible gas, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a pair of cupolagenerators connected at the top and having valved pipes at the bottom connecting with a gas-take-otl' pipe, of a scrubber, a governor, a gas-engine and the exhaust-pipe of the engine connecting by valved pipes with the base of said cupola-generators, substantially as described.

5. A gas generating and power plant com prising three generating-chambers connecting each with the other at the top by a valved pipe and each having at the bottom a valved pipe connecting With a gas-take-off pipe, means for purifying the gas, a connected gas-engine and the exhaust-pipe of the engine connecting by a branch pipe with each of the generatingchambers, substantially as described.

6. The combination with three-cupola gasgenerators, of pipes connecting them, one with another at the top, controlling-valves in said pipes, pipes connecting said generators, one With another at the bottom, valves in said pipes and a gas-take-off pipe leading from one of said bottom connectingpipes, whereby any two of the generators may be operated together as a pair and any one of them cutout of'circuit for cleaning and repair, a gas-engine, and the exhaust-pipe of the engine connecting by a branch pipe With each of the BURDETT LOOMIS. HAVVLEY PETTIBONE.

Witnesses: LEWIS B. BUDD,

W. D. MORRIS. 

